Apparatus for drying filamentary material



Nov. 1, 1932. G. L. BROWNELL APPARATUS FOR DRYING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Dec. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1932. G. L. BROWNELL 1,885,799

APPARATUS FOR DRYING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Dec. 19. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATIENTS" OFFICE GEORGE L. BROWNELL, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE. TO G. L. BROWNELL, ING, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS APPARATUS FOR DRYING F ILAITENTARY MATERIAL Application filed December 19, 1980. Serial No. 503,540.

The present invention relates to the treatment of filamentary material such as twisted,

braided, or otherwise prepared twines or cords of cotton, linen, or other fibrous materials in such a manner as to improve the r tensile strength. a

In my copending application, Serial No.

427,032, filed February 8, 1930, there is shown and described an improved method of treating filamentary material of the above ind1- cated character so as to improve its tensile strength. This method resides in drawing the material through a liquid maintained at a constant desired temperature, thereafter stretching it a predetermined amount, and then winding the stretched material under sufficient tension to hold the stretch until the material has become permanently set by coiling and drying.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for quickly and uniformly drying filamentary material which has been previously subjected to treatment in a manner similar to that set forth in my aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 427,032. Obviously, however, the drying apparatus of the present invention is adapted for use in connection with the treatment of filamentary material by methods other than the method disclosed in my aforesaid copending application, as will hereinafter appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a portion of a machine for treating filamentary material in connection with which my drying apparatus is employed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

'Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing the construction of one of the drying drums.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the drying drums illustrating the manner of conducting the filamentary material thereto.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical control of the heating elements for the drying drums.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the drying apparatus of the present invention is shown, for purposes of illustration, in connection with a portion of a machine for treating filamentary material fully disclosed in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 427,032. In general, this machine comprises a frame 1 providing an upwardl extending bracket 2 for supporting a splndle rail 3 extending longitudinally of the frame 1. The spindle rail 3 carries a number of spindles 4, 4 inclined upwardly and each spindle loosely supports a spool 5 on which is wound thread 6, or other filamentary material, in the condition that it comes from a twisting machine. The thread 6 leads downwardly which directs the thread into the open end of a moistening and heating cylinder 8 supported by a lower frame member 10. As indicated in the portion of the cylinder 8 shown in section in Fig. 2, the thread 6 passes through a second guide 9 in the lower portion of the cylinder 8 which guide 9 serves to reverse the direction of the thread, the thread 6 leading upwardly through the open end of the cylinder through a squeezing or liquid removing device 10, the details of which are fully described in my aforesaid copending application. The cylinder 8 is connected by suitable piping to a source of liquid which is-maintained at the level indicated, the liquid being free to circulate around a heating element 11 so as to maintain it at a predetermined temperature.

After passing through the squeezing device 10, the thread 6 from each cylinder 8 passes around a pair of grooved stretching drums 12, 12 mounted on shafts 13 that are postively driven in unison from the driving shaft 14 of the machine through the gearing 15. indicated in dotted lines. As best shown in Fig. 1, the grooves 12a of the stretching drums 12 are of gradually increasing diameter so that in passing around the drums 12 the moistened thread 6 is stretched, all as from each spool 5 through a guide 7 fully described in my copending application, Serial No. 427,032.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the stretched thread delivered by the positively driven 5 drums 12 is finally wound on a spool 16 that is rotatably driven from the shaft 14 through gearing 17, with a friction clutch 18 interposed between a flange 16a of the spool and a shaft 19 driven by the gearing 17. With this driving connection, the spool 16 is rotated at such a speed that it winds the stretched thread 6 as delivered by thedrums 12 without losing any of the stretch therein, the thread being distributed evenly on the spool by a traversing bar 20 having a vertical reciprocatory movement, as indicated by the arrows.

After the thread 6 is stretched by the rotatably driven drums 12, some moisture re mains in the thread, depending upon the thickness and composition of the same, and the object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for thoroughly drying the stretched thread, while it is still in tension, and before it is wound on the spool 16. In order to accomplish this purpose, the thread from each pair of stretching drums 12 is led upwardly around a. drying drum 21 and then downwardly around a guide pulley 22 before passing to the traversing bar 20, as clearly indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. A drying drum 21 is provided for each pair of stretching drums 12, as shown in Fig. 1, and the several drums 21 are mounted on a shaft 23 rigidly supported in holding brackets 24 extending downwardly from an arm 2a of the frame bracket 2. Each bracket 24 provides an extension 25 for slidably supporting a rod 26 running the length of the shaft 23 and spaced therefrom, asshown in Fig. 2. The rod 26 carries a plurality of pairs of guide pins 27 opposite each drying drum 21, and each thread leading from a pair of stretching drums 12 passes between a Consequently, longitudinal movement of the rod 26 will determine the position of each thread on the periphery of a drying drum 21, for a purpose which will shortly appear.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each drying drum 21 consists of an assembly comprising a metallic ring 28 providing an outer peripheral groove 29 with an annular electrical heating element 30 seated in a depression 31 around the inner periphery of the ring 28. The ring 28 is clamped between a pair of annular disks 32 and 33, preferably composed of heat resisting, electrical insulating material, such as asbestos fibre-board, which serve-to center the ring about the axis of the shaft 23. The assembly of the drum 21 is completed by a metallic bushing 34 secured to the insulating disk 32, and a second metallic bushing 35 secured to the insulating disk 33. The bushing 65 35 also provides an extended flange 36 in pair of pins 27, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

contact with the disk 33 and providing around its outer periphery a, lip 37, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

The entireheating drum'assembly is ro-- tatably supported on a tube 38 surrounding the shaft 23 and spaced therefrom at intervals by insulating bushings 39. Sleeve bearings 40 are interposed between the bushings 34 and 35 and the tube 38, so that the drum 21 is adapted to rotate freely on the tube 38, spacing collars 41, 41 secured to the tube 38 serving to position the unit on the tube 38, with the groove 29 of the ring 28 substantially in alinement with the largest grooves on the stretching drums 12, see Fig. 1.

For the purpose of conducting current to the heating element 30 of each drum 21, the stationary shaft 23 and the surrounding tube 38 are connected by leads 42 to a suitable source of electrical energy, as indicated. Current" from the shaft 23 is conducted to a slip ring 43 surrounding the tube 38 and insulated therefrom, a brush 44 carried by the insulating disk 3.3 serving to connect one terminal of the element 30 to the slip ring 43. The tube 38-carries a slip ring 45 insulated from the slip ring 43 at 46, and the brush 47, mounted on the insulating disk 32, serves to conduct current from the tube 38 to the other terminal of the heating element 30. Thus the heating element 30 is adapted to be energized continuously while it is turning freely on the tube 38. As indicated in Fig. 1, a complete drying drum 21 is provided for each pair of stretching drums 12, and the manner in which the apparatus operates to uniformly dry the stretched thread will now be described. 7

As previously pointed out, each drying drum 21 is positioned on the tube 38 with the groove 29 of the heating ring 28 substantially in alinement with the largest pair of grooves on the stretching drums 12. Therefore, with the rod 26 in the position shown in Fig. 1, the several pairs of guide pins 27 serve to maintain the several stretched threads 6 in engagement with the respective grooves 29, the rings 28 at that time being heated by energization of the elements .30. This is the normal operation of the machine, and since each stretched thread is subjected to a pull as it passes around the ring 28, by rotation of the spool 16, each drum rotates freely on the tube 38. As the thread passes around the heated groove 29, any moisture remaining therein after the stretching operation is rapidly dried out, so that thread is wound on the spool 16 in a perfectly dry condition. Inasmuch as the several drying drums 21 are identical in construction, the several threads passing from the sets of stretching drums 12 are dried uniformly, so as to maintain the stretch in the threads, and the contents of the completely wound spools 16, therefore, have a uniform character.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown an arrangement whereby, should the operation of the whole machine be stopped for any reason, as by disconnecting the driving shaft 14 from its source of power, the several threads 6 will be automatically removed from the heating grooves 29 toprevent the threads from being scorched. In this automatic arrangement, the power shaft 14 is provided with a driving pulley .48 and a loose pulley 49 with a belt 50 adapted to rotatably drive the shaft 14 when it is in engagement with the pulley 48. In order to disconnect the shaft 14 from the source of power, not shown, a belt shipper 51 is provided connected at its end to an operating handle 52. The lower end of the handle 52 is pivoted at 53 and, obviously, turning movement of the handle in the direction of the arrow will cause the belt 50 to be shifted from the driving pulley 48 to the loose pulley 49. The operating handle 52 is also connected to the slidable rod 26 by means of a link 54, so that movement of the lever 52 to the right will shift the rod 26 longitudinally and simultaneousl move each pair of guide pins 27 out of alinement with the heating groove 29 of the corresponding heating drum 21 to a position in substantial alinement with the lip 37 on the flange 36 of the drum 21. Therefore, operation of the handle 52 to disconnect the shaft 14 from its source of power will automatically cause all of the threads 6 to be shifted out of the heated grooves 29 of the rings 28 onto the surfaces of the relatively cool lips 37. As a result, it is impossible for any of the threads to be scorched by remaining in contact with a heated groove 29 after movement of the thread has ceased. Upon moving the handle 52 to the left, in order to resume operation of themachine, the threads will all be shifted back into the heated grooves 29, and the drying of the thread will be resumed.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown diagrammatically an arrangement whereby the shaft 23 and the tube 38, which convey current to the rings 28, will be deenergized upon stoppage of the machine, in order to prevent the heating elements 30 from burnmg out. In Fig. 5 the leads 42 from the shaft 23 and tube 38, respectively, are connected to the stationary contacts 55 of a switch providing a pair of movable arms 56. The arms 56 are adapted to engage a second pair of stationary contacts 57 that are connected to a source of electrical energy indicated at 58. The switch arms 56 are connected together to a bar 59 that is connected to the belt 0 erating handle 52 in such a manner that w en the handle 52 moves the shipper 51 to throw the belt 50 fromdriving pulley 48, the switch arms 56 will be moved out of enga ement with the contacts 57, as indicated In ig. 5.

However, when the handle 52 is moved to the dotted line position to start the machine by throwing the belt 50 onto the driving pulley 48, the switch arms 56 will engage the contacts 57 and all of the heating elements 30 of the drying drums 21 will be simultaneously energized. Therefore, by the time the stretching drums 12 have delivered stretched threads to the grooves 29, the ring 28 will be heated enough to dry these threads.

I claim,

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a supply of filamentary material, means for moistening the same and means for winding the moistened material on a carrier in a stretched condition, of a rotatably mounted, heated drum'providing a groove around which the material passes on the way to said drum, and means for automatically moving said material out of said groove upon interruption of the winding of said material on said drum.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a supply of filamentary material, means for moistening and stretching said material, a rotatable carrier for winding the stretched materials and a source of power for driving said carrier, of a drum providing a heated peripheral portion around which the material passes on the way to said carrier while the latter is connected to said source of power, and means for automatically removing the material from said drum heated portion when the carrier is disconnected from said source of power.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a supply of filamentary material, means'for moistening and stretching said material, a rotatable carrier for winding the stretched material and a source of power for driving said carrier, of a rotatable drum roviding a heated portion having a perip era-l groove, means for maintaining the material in said groove while said carrier is beingdriven from said source of power, and means for automatically shifting said material from said groove onto an unheated portion of said drum when said carrier is disconnected from said source of power.

GEORGE L. BROWNELL. 

